PORTLAND – Damian Lillard scored 22 points after returning from a groin injury and Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Washington Wizards 125-104 Wednesday night.
“I felt very good,” said Lillard. “I moved pretty well, I could do a lot. I didn’t want to do too much when I saw the kind of game we were playing, the balance was good. We had a comfortable lead, I “I chose my moments to explode, take off and cut hard. Get into position and fight on the screens, and I didn’t feel restricted.”
Hassan Whiteside recorded his 48th double-double of the season for Portland, finishing with 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. CJ McCollum, like Lillard, had 22 points and five assists.
It was Lillard’s first game in three weeks after missing six games with groin tension.
“It was weird,” said Lillard of her first Blazer road trip in eight seasons. “I was playing in NBA 2K. It was my first time too. Since the game was released. I can’t tell you how long I have been playing.”
Washington goalkeeper Bradley Beal, who started the day as the second best NBA scorer behind Houston star James Harden, had 29 points. But the Blazers made Beal work for it, when he went 10 for 29 (35%) on the field.
He was guarded by Trevor Ariza for much of the night.
“It’s a pest. It’s what it does,” said Beal.
Anthony started off strong. The 17-year-old veteran scored 14 points in the first, his highest level in a quarter this season, to help the Blazers take a 37-30 lead.
“I don’t play it normally for the entire first quarter, but it bounced back. It was good to see,” said Portland coach Terry Stotts.
Lillard missed her first two shots but connected on a 3 pointer for her first basket with 5:49 left in the first period. The stellar keeper then hit another 3 with 4:46 remaining in the second.
While Beal was performing for the Wizards, second-best scorer Davis Bertans struggled to drop his shot. Bertans shooter at 3 points at 42%, only made one of his first seven 3. He finished with 20 points.
Lillard scored her fourth 3 in the third quarter as the Blazers increased their lead to 24. Portland had a 100-79 lead after three.
A deep 3 point from Bertans reduced it to 104-93 with 7:37 left, causing a timeout for the Blazers. The Wizards only scored three points in the following 3:36, while Portland went 13-3 to help put the game away.
With 4:01 left, the Wizards pulled Beal and Bertans.
Even with Lillard back, Stotts would like to see McCollum’s solid play continue with his healthy all-star teammate.
“What is impressive is that he has taken a leadership role in the field,” said Stotts of McCollum. “He scored when he needed to, he helped, he did things that you would like him to do. I think one of our goals, not only this year but next year, to make it happen happen more often even when Dame is in the field. It was nice to see him do that and I hope it can happen more often.
In six games without Lillard, McCollum has averaged 33.3 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
ALSO WEDNESDAY
Mavericks 127, Pelicans 123, OT: Luka Doncic scored 30 points and broke the Dallas career triple-double record with his 22nd, helping the Mavericks hold New Orleans Doncic added 17 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kristaps Porzingis had 34 points and 12 rebounds in the national televised game between young stars Doncic and Zion Williamson. Williamson scored 21 points in 35 minutes in the first consecutive NBA career. Doncic broke Jason Kidd’s triple-double record just five days after his 21st birthday. Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 27 points, but fouled in overtime. Lonzo Ball added 25.
Bucks 119, Pacers 100: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Milwaukee recovered after squashing a 22-point lead to beat Indiana. The Bucks rebounded after a 105-89 loss to Miami where they posted their lowest total points of the season. Best NBA 53-9 player, Milwaukee hasn’t lost a consecutive game throughout the season. T.J. Warren scored 18 points for Indiana and Doug McDermott was 16.
Heat 116, Magic 113: Duncan Robinson scored 27 points, all from outside the arc, and Miami reached a franchise record of 22 points at 3 points to beat Orlando. Goran Dragic scored 25 points and added nine assists, Kelly Olynyk scored 16 in a perfect night of shooting and Jimmy Butler finished with 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Terrence Ross scored 35 points and peaked at eight three-point points for the Magic.
Celtics 112, Cavaliers 106: Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and Boston beat Cleveland in a shorthanded team clash. Cleveland rookie Collin Sexton scored a career high of 41 points, scoring 17 of 29 shots from the field. His previous career record was 32 against Utah.
Jazz 112, Knicks 104: Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic each scored 23 points, and Utah beat New York. Rudy Gobert collected 18 points and 14 rebounds for Jazz. They won their third straight game against a team well below .500 of the Eastern Conference. Julius Randle had 32 points and 11 rebounds for New York.
Thunder 114, Pistons 107: Danilo Gallinari scored 3 points in the last minute and Oklahoma City beat Detroit after scoring a 16 point lead in the second period. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points for Oklahoma City. Christian Wood scored a career-high 29 points for Detroit.
Grizzlies 118, Nets 79: Josh Jackson scored 19 points and Memphis fled from Brooklyn. Tyus Jones added 18 points to help Memphis win their third in a row. Ja Morant scored 15 points. Taurean Prince had 15 points for Brooklyn.
Timberwolves 115, Bulls 108: Malik Beasley scored 24 points, D’Angelo Russell added 19 points and Minnesota beat Chicago to win two straight games for the first time this season. Coby White led Chicago with 26 points.
PORTLAND – Damian Lillard scored 22 points after returning from a groin injury and Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Washington Wizards 125-104 Wednesday night.
“I felt very good,” said Lillard. “I moved pretty well, I could do a lot. I didn’t want to do too much when I saw the kind of game we were playing, the balance was good. We had a comfortable lead, I “I chose my moments to explode, take off and cut hard. Get into position and fight on the screens, and I didn’t feel restricted.”
Hassan Whiteside recorded his 48th double-double of the season for Portland, finishing with 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. CJ McCollum, like Lillard, had 22 points and five assists.
It was Lillard’s first game in three weeks after missing six games with groin tension.
“It was weird,” said Lillard of her first Blazer road trip in eight seasons. “I was playing in NBA 2K. It was my first time too. Since the game was released. I can’t tell you how long I have been playing.”
Washington goalkeeper Bradley Beal, who started the day as the second best NBA scorer behind Houston star James Harden, had 29 points. But the Blazers made Beal work for it, when he went 10 for 29 (35%) on the field.
He was guarded by Trevor Ariza for much of the night.
“It’s a pest. It’s what it does,” said Beal.
Anthony started off strong. The 17-year-old veteran scored 14 points in the first, his highest level in a quarter this season, to help the Blazers take a 37-30 lead.
“I don’t play it normally for the entire first quarter, but it bounced back. It was good to see,” said Portland coach Terry Stotts.
Lillard missed her first two shots but connected on a 3 pointer for her first basket with 5:49 left in the first period. The stellar keeper then hit another 3 with 4:46 remaining in the second.
While Beal was performing for the Wizards, second-best scorer Davis Bertans struggled to drop his shot. Bertans shooter at 3 points at 42%, only made one of his first seven 3. He finished with 20 points.
Lillard scored her fourth 3 in the third quarter as the Blazers increased their lead to 24. Portland had a 100-79 lead after three.
A deep 3 point from Bertans reduced it to 104-93 with 7:37 left, causing a timeout for the Blazers. The Wizards only scored three points in the following 3:36, while Portland went 13-3 to help put the game away.
With 4:01 left, the Wizards pulled Beal and Bertans.
Even with Lillard back, Stotts would like to see McCollum’s solid play continue with his healthy all-star teammate.
“What is impressive is that he has taken a leadership role in the field,” said Stotts of McCollum. “He scored when he needed to, he helped, he did things that you would like him to do. I think one of our goals, not only this year but next year, to make it happen happen more often even when Dame is in the field. It was nice to see him do that and I hope it can happen more often.
In six games without Lillard, McCollum has averaged 33.3 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
ALSO WEDNESDAY
Mavericks 127, Pelicans 123, OT: Luka Doncic scored 30 points and broke the Dallas career triple-double record with his 22nd, helping the Mavericks hold New Orleans Doncic added 17 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kristaps Porzingis had 34 points and 12 rebounds in the national televised game between young stars Doncic and Zion Williamson. Williamson scored 21 points in 35 minutes in the first consecutive NBA career. Doncic broke Jason Kidd’s triple-double record just five days after his 21st birthday. Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 27 points, but fouled in overtime. Lonzo Ball added 25.
Bucks 119, Pacers 100: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Milwaukee recovered after squashing a 22-point lead to beat Indiana. The Bucks rebounded after a 105-89 loss to Miami where they posted their lowest total points of the season. Best NBA 53-9 player, Milwaukee hasn’t lost a consecutive game throughout the season. T.J. Warren scored 18 points for Indiana and Doug McDermott was 16.
Heat 116, Magic 113: Duncan Robinson scored 27 points, all from outside the arc, and Miami reached a franchise record of 22 points at 3 points to beat Orlando. Goran Dragic scored 25 points and added nine assists, Kelly Olynyk scored 16 in a perfect night of shooting and Jimmy Butler finished with 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Terrence Ross scored 35 points and peaked at eight three-point points for the Magic.
Celtics 112, Cavaliers 106: Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and Boston beat Cleveland in a shorthanded team clash. Cleveland rookie Collin Sexton scored a career high of 41 points, scoring 17 of 29 shots from the field. His previous career record was 32 against Utah.
Jazz 112, Knicks 104: Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic each scored 23 points, and Utah beat New York. Rudy Gobert collected 18 points and 14 rebounds for Jazz. They won their third straight game against a team well below .500 of the Eastern Conference. Julius Randle had 32 points and 11 rebounds for New York.
Thunder 114, Pistons 107: Danilo Gallinari scored 3 points in the last minute and Oklahoma City beat Detroit after scoring a 16 point lead in the second period. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points for Oklahoma City. Christian Wood scored a career-high 29 points for Detroit.
Grizzlies 118, Nets 79: Josh Jackson scored 19 points and Memphis fled from Brooklyn. Tyus Jones added 18 points to help Memphis win their third in a row. Ja Morant scored 15 points. Taurean Prince had 15 points for Brooklyn.
Timberwolves 115, Bulls 108: Malik Beasley scored 24 points, D’Angelo Russell added 19 points and Minnesota beat Chicago to win two straight games for the first time this season. Coby White led Chicago with 26 points.